Williams' Stock on the Rise?

Viking Update Staff

04/16/2005

The Vikings are excited about the chances of getting one of the big-time wide receivers in the draft. But will either of the top two be available?

The posturing that goes on in the days and weeks leading up to the draft is the making of NFL legend. Teams move up. They move down. They send out misinformation and red herrings. They do it all. And the media laps it up like house dogs.

The latest rumor making the rounds is that, while magazines like The Sporting News have Braylon Edwards still being available -- VU has filed that in the "Snowball's Chance In Hell" department files -- at No. 7, there is a growing sentiment that, if the Vikings are bent on taking a wide receiver with their first pick, it may have to be someone other than Edwards or Mike Williams.

It's becoming more apparent that the longer Edwards remains on the board, the more likely someone will jump -- either via trade or the team in line itself. With so much interest in him, having Williams as a second option seems just as likely to draw interest.

The focus of the chatter centers on the Titans, who hired Norm Chow as their offensive coordinator. Chow, as most know, coached Williams at USC and is very high on his talent. Williams has moved from a guy that many thought would be available somewhere in the 10-15 range, but now has experts taking him off the board as early as No. 5 to Tampa Bay.

Will it happen? We'll have to wait seven days to find out. But, if the Vikings are heading into this week with a plan to take a wide receiver at No. 7, they better have a third option in mind because the top two could easily be gone by No. 7.